Beijing, June 24: China is accelerating its development of low-altitude aviation as electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft emerge as a key part of the country’s growing “low-altitude economy.”
Sichuan Province is taking the lead in testing passenger-carrying eVTOL aircraft in complex mountainous terrain, while China has also successfully produced its first domestically developed eVTOL engine.
In April this year, Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Aerofugia conducted a successful trial flight along the Panda Air Corridor in Sichuan. The route connects two popular tourist destinations—Bifengxia and Wulong Shenshuping in Ya’an city.
The journey, which normally takes nearly four hours by road, can now be completed in just 45 minutes using eVTOL aircraft.
Wang Hongxiao, General Manager of Xiangyuan General Aviation, said the newly developed low-altitude air routes offer tourists a unique opportunity to enjoy scenic aerial views of mountains, canyons, and local landscapes in southwest China. He added that the service also integrates panda conservation and geological education programs.
However, operating in southwest China’s rugged mountain terrain presents major challenges, including rapidly changing weather, complex wind currents, and significant altitude differences, all of which affect flight safety and reliability.
Wang Chengwu, Deputy General Manager of Xiangyuan General Aviation, noted that low-altitude flights would allow travelers to spend less time commuting and more time enjoying their destinations.
Aerofugia is currently moving forward with the official certification process for its eVTOL aircraft and expects to secure type certification by 2027.
Meanwhile, China has also unveiled its first homegrown eVTOL engine. The electric aircraft engine, named AEH125, rolled off the production line in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province. It was developed by the Aero Engine Control Systems Institute under the Aero Engine Corporation of China.
The lightweight engine is expected to increase passenger capacity. Liu Guoping, deputy director of the institute, said the engine features an integrated system where the propeller and power unit work together seamlessly. For safety, each motor and control system is built with a dual-redundancy structure, ensuring uninterrupted power even if one component fails.
Experts believe eVTOL technology will play an increasingly important role in tourism, emergency rescue operations, regional transportation, and future urban air mobility. With the successful development of domestic engine technology, China’s low-altitude aviation sector is expected to grow more rapidly in the coming years.
